BY TODD GARBARINI
I
love podcasts about film, whether they are emceed by critics or by Joe Blows
whose only claim to fame is that they are equally as passionate and as
fanatical about film as I am. There are many podcasts out there that are
dedicated to the science fiction and horror film genres. Some of them are far
too lengthy for their own good and the hosts go off on unintended tangents, but
for the most part the good ones are short and sweet and stick to the subject at
hand.
A
very interesting one that has come to my attention is The Movies That Made
Me which can be found on the Trailers from Hell film website under
the (surprise) “Podcasts†heading. It’s hosted by Josh Olson, author of the scathing,
five-million-plus hits Village Voice article “I Will Not Read Your Fucking
Script†and the Oscar-nominated screenplay of David Cronenberg’s A History
of Violence (2005), and film director Joe Dante, best known for Hollywood
Boulevard (1976), The Howling (1981), Gremlins (1984) and Innerspace
(1987).They are well into Season Three, but one episode that stood out
to me is the first episode from Season Two which features director William
Friedkin. Mr Friedkin is one of the most interesting, knowledgeable, and funniest
people to chat with when it comes to just about anything. The triumvirate engage
in a spirited conversation which includes a brief discussion of Mr. Friedkin’s “Nightcrawlersâ€
portion of The Twilight Zone series revival which aired in the fall of
1985 just weeks before the release of his masterful To Live and Die in L.A.;
the 75 seconds he cut from The Exorcist for the February 1980 CBS-TV
airing; his lack of affection for my favorite horror film, Stanley Kubrick’s The
Shining (1980); his flat-out repudiation of film school; his love of
Michelangelo Antonioni (an enthusiasm I share with him); his turning down All
the President’s Men; and an interesting and insightful tidbit about Bob
Woodward all made me want to hear more.
Click
HERE to listen to the discussion.
(Look for Todd Garbarini's exclusive interview with William Friedkin on the 50th anniversary of "The French Connection" in Cinema Retro issue #50, coming in May.)